What: ‘Arresting Developments’ a photography exhibition by Parhad Goghavala on the windows of Bombay
When: 31st Jan – Feb 20; 11 am to 7 pm.
Where: Gallery 7,
G3 Ground Floor, Oricon House,
12/14 Rampart Row, K Dubash Rd
Kalaghoda, Mumbai 400001
‘Arresting Developments’ by Parhad Goghavala
Arresting Developments is a collection of images of windows of Bombay by Mumbai born, international Indian photographer Parhad Goghavala. The images express his love for this maximum and sometimes overwhelming metropolis, Mumbai. It is a voyeuristic view into the everyday lives of the people of Mumbai. Using beautiful facades of derelict buildings from the earlier part of the last century and their windows as a canvas. The artist sees each image as telling a different story in an almost poetic visual style which draws the viewer closer and thereby revealing fascinating details as the image is recited, as it were.
The artist would like you to experience the images without judging them. All the images have been captured at a precise time of day in order to capture as much detail, colour and texture of the subject as possible, resulting in the artist having to visit the same site several times in order to get that perfect shot. The collection has been shot over the period of two years 2008-09.
The images have been captured in the old neighbourhood of Byculla down to Crawford market towards the South of the city. As busy Mumbaiites we tend to focus on where we need to get to and never really look around, as the city can get quite overwhelming. This is an opportunity to experience the raw unfiltered beauty that Mumbai has to offer, it may even encourage you to look around at this great city a little more and find beauty everywhere, arresting you in your tracks…
About the Photographer
Parhad Goghavala was born in 1974 in Mumbai, India. He was sent to the prestigious Cathedral& John Connon School, where he was first introduced to the camera, dark room techniques and photography as an extra subject. Subsequently, he studied mathematics and physics and eventually graduated in subjects in which he had little or no interest. Parhad moved to London in 1996 in order to pursue another degree, Industrial Design at Brunel University, London. He also did several art and portfolio building courses at Central Saint Martins, London, strengthening his appreciation for colour, form and aesthetics.
After having dabbled with the camera on his travels and doing the basic course at the Photographic Society of India in 2001, Parhad decided to take what was a serious amateur pursuit and turn it into a professional one. He assisted commercial and fashion photographer Himanshu Seth before enrolling for the Mastercraftsman 2 year course at The Shari Academy of Photography and Digital Imaging where he learnt studio lighting techniques and how to ‘see light’.
Parhad had his first show “Images Inspired by the Art of Cocktail Making” in Association with The Bar Company in Dec 2006 at Henry Tham’s Lounge, Mumbai. The commercial success of the show encouraged him to further his passion for photography and image making.
Parhad is a member of the Photographers Guild of India (PGI) and has received an award from the guild for his image ‘Lasting Impressions’ at their annual exhibiton ‘EXHIBIT A’ in 2007. Keen to use the passion for his craft to give back to society, he organised an exhibition of his collection “Effloresce – Flowers of Breach Candy’ at the prestigious Breach Candy Swimming Bath Trust in December 2010, where he was able to raise a considerable amount, as a 100% of the sale of the images were donated to charity.
In 2012 he was commissioned by the Ador group of companies to cover the walls of their swanky, newly designed head office at Ador House in Kalaghoda, Mumbai with his signature style of aesthetically beautiful images of their industrial plants at work.
Parhad is also a commercial photographer and has shot for high end international Michelin starred restaurants such as Hakkasan and Yauatcha and exclusive publications such as Elle Decor. He is passionate about clicking Interiors, Food, Fashion and Fine Art. Parhad returned to London in November 2012, where he zealously put together a vast, very impressive portfolio of fashion images shot in London till early 2014. (Parhadgoghavala.com/fashion)
Parhad is having his first serious Fine Art exhibition titled “Arresting Developments” shot in 2008 at Gallery 7, Kalaghoda, Mumbai this February 2016. The images express his love for this maximum and sometimes overwhelming metropolis. It is a voyeuristic view into the everyday lives of the people of Mumbai, using the beautiful facades of derelict buildings from the earlier part of the last century and their windows as a canvas.
Apart from shooting for well known personalities and publications in Mumbai, he is currently working on his first highly creative fashion calender for the year 2017. A truly international Indian photographer, he is the next big name to look out for in the Fashion and Fine Art Photography world.
To check out some of his amazing images logon to his website parhadgoghavala.com.
